Carleton College

Founded in 1866, Carleton College is the third oldest college in Minnesota. The institution bases the program on a trimester calendar, which consists of three ten-week terms in one academic year. The applicant pool for admission in 2013 exceeded 7,000, which was the largest number of applicants in the college’s history.

The Carleton College ranking in the U.S. News and World Report, 2013 edition, is on the 8th position of best liberal arts colleges in the United States. At the same time, the Carleton College ranking for undergraduate teaching at a natural liberal arts college is number two.

Location

Located in the historic river town of Northfield, Minn, the campus of Carleton College is spread across 955 acres. Northfield is an extremely quiet town with only few scattered restaurants and stores. However, the proximity to Minneapolis provides the students with lots of opportunities for fun weekends and internship.

Acceptance rate

The acceptance rate at Carleton College is 31%.

Infrastructure

Carleton College is a residential institution, which means that the halls and houses are the center of life for many students. The campus was created in 1867, on a hill overlooking the picturesque Cannon River. The Weitz Center for Creativity includes a live theater a cinema.

Several buildings of Carleton have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rating: A

Housing

All freshmen are required to live on the campus at Carleton College. Most students (about 90%) continue living on campus in one of the campus townhouses, shared interest houses or residence halls. Most floors of the residence halls have a diverse mix of women and men from all four classes. All residence halls have laundry facilities, TVs and lounges.

Rating: A-

Student Life / Student Community

Athletics are a big part of the student life, and the Carleton College athletics opportunities include dozens of intramural teams, 23 club teams and 19 varsity teams.

Carleton College students are known as people who love to study. It is said that the Carleton College library serves as an actual student center. The surroundings of this college provide a profound communion with the nature. The lack of Greek life on campus is replaced by interest houses, which bring the students together because of their interests rather than their popularity.

Rating: B+

Academic

The liberal arts education at Carleton College is aimed at transforming the lives of the students and preparing them for a rapidly changing world. The education at Carleton College is focused on the flexibility to adapt to dynamic situations, effective communication, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking.

Rating: B+

Best courses: Mathematics and Statistics; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Visual and Performing Arts; Physical Sciences; and Social Sciences.

Expenses

The total comprehensive fee at Carleton College is estimated at $58,149. This amount includes the tuition, activity fee, and room and board expenses.

Rating: C-

Tuition cost: $45,900 (2013-2014)

Sources of funding

More than 55% of the students at Carleton College receive need-based scholarships and grants with an average of $28,480. In order to provide maximum financial aid to the students in need, this college doesn’t provide merit-based scholarships.

Student feedback

“I love all the people at Carleton and how open and accessible the professors are. I feel that the administration and faculty are truly invested in the success of each Carleton student.” – Abbey, junior at Carleton College.

Interesting Facts about Carleton College

Carleton College has many unique traditions, one of which is stealing and displaying a plaster bust of Friedrich Schiller, which dates back to the 1950.

One of the newer traditions at Carleton College is the Silent Dance Party, which is thrown prior to the finals. During this party, the students listen to music on their headphones and dance together in the Carleton College library.

The future students of Carleton can use the Carleton College confidential forum to ask whatever questions they have. The How good is Carleton College confidential thread on the College Confidential forum speaks volumes about the high reputation of this institution.

The Carleton College football team won the 1992 conference championship with a 9-1 record.

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Contributors Bio

Lona GlennLos Angeles
Lona graduated from Los Angeles City College. While being a lecturer in several high school institutions Lona founded an online educational project Tutorsclass.Read more

Maria CastleDavis, CA
I studied education and currently work as a tutor for school-age children. I've worked as a volunteer in many different international social projects and as a camp counselor every summer.Read more